Tobacco pipe



Feb. 26, 1946. K. voNNl-:GUT

TOBACCO PIPE Filed Oct. so, 1944 @MMM Patented Feb. 26, 1946 TOBACCO PIPE Kurt Vonnegut,A Indianapolis, Ind.

Substituted for-abandoned' application, Serial No. 234,864, October 14, 1938. This application October 30, 1944, SerialNo. 561,104

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a tobacco pipe.

One object of the invention is to provide a tobacco pipe which may be kept clean with the least possible difliculty. Another object of the invention is to provide a pipe which may be cleaned with the least possible chance of soiling theY lingers and surrounding objects. Another object of the invention is to provide a pipe which may be cleaned without disturbing the burning tobacco in the bowl.

To this end the invention provides a bowl and stem unit preferably integrally formed and having a tubular member slidably mounted therein and carrying a bit at one end. The tubular member has an opening connecting the interior thereof with the interior of the bowl when in the smo-king position. For cleaning purposes the bit is pressed toward the .bowl and stem unit and the tubular member then extends completely beyond the bowl, with the opening outside of the bowl. An ordinary pipe stem cleaner of suitable length may then be run completely through the tubular member. To return the pipe to smoking position the bit is pulled away from the bowl and stem unit and a closed end of the tubular member substantially seals the bowl.

The present application is a substitute for my prior forfeited application Serial No. 234,864 led October 14, 1938.

Other objects and features of the invention and the full nature thereof will be apparent from the following specification and claims and the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a tobacco pipe embodying the invention in one of its preferred forms and with the parts in the smoking position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts in the cleaning position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the bowl end of the pipe sho-wn in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a pipe showing a third alternative form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one member y of the pipe shown in Fig. 5.

In the form of the invention shown by way of illustration in Figs. 1 and 2 there is provided a :bowl and stem unit consisting of a bowl IU and stem II preferably formed integrally and with a bushing I2 inserted in the end of the stem. A tubular member I3 preferably of metal isslidably mounted in the bowl and stem unit with a suiiiciently close fit to prevent escape 55 forms, but the details may be further varied Y to the position shown in Fig. 1.

of air around the same at either end. A bit I4 is carried by one end of the tubular member I3 while the other end is closed as shown at I5. An opening I6 is. cut in the tubular member to provide communication between the interior thereof and the interior of the bowl when in the smoking position shown in Fig. l.

When it is desired to clean the pipe the bit I4 is pressed toward the bowl, moving the tubular member to the position shown in Fig. 2 with the opening I6 outside of the bowl. In this position a pipe stem cleaner of any common type may be run completely through the tube, the accumulation in the tube being discharged through the opening I6 and the cleaner being removed at the same place. To facilitate the passage of the cleaner the interior of the tube is given a ramp-like shape as shown at I'I.

When it is desired to return the pipe to the smoking position the bit I4 is pulled outwardly In this position the closed end I5 of the tube I3 closes the opening in the bowl through which said tube projects. At the same time an indexing pin I8 carried by the tube I3 enters a suitably formed recess I9 in the bowl and prevents the tube and bit from rotating While the'pipe is in use. quantity of packing material 2li may be enclosed in the stem II about the tube I3 to provide sufficient friction to prevent undesired movement of the tube and to seal the tube still further against escape of air outside of the same.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that in Figs. 1 and 2 except that the bit is longer, the stem is shorter and a ferrule 2l is mounted on the stem and slidably supports the inner end of the bit. This construction provides a pipe of more conventional appearance than that of Figs. 1 and 2 and also adds to the strength of the pipe as a whole.

The modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 differs from the first described constructions in that the indexing pin 22 is inside the stem and engages'a recess 23 in the bushing I2.

From the foregoing specilication it will be apparent that the invention provides a pipe which can be readily cleaned with a maximum of digital cleanliness. In many cases the use of a cleaner is not necessary. An accumulation unless allowed to solidify at least partially may be removed by placing the pipe in the cleaning position and blowing through the bit.

The invention has been described in several 2 i without departing from the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a tobacco pipe, a bowl and stem, said stem having a passageway communicating with the interior of said bowl, and said bowl having an opening aligned with said passageway, a tubular member mounted in said passageway and slidable therein between a smoking position and a cleaning position, said tubular member having a closed end adapted to close the opening in said bowl when in the smoking position and to extend through said opening in the cleaning position, said tubular member having an opening connecting the interior thereof with the interior of the bowl when in the smoking position and positioned outside of said bowl in the cleaning position, and` the opposite end of said tubular member projecting beyond said stem, and spaced from said stem in the smoking position to permit movement to the cleaning position.

2. In a tobacco pipe, a bowl and stem unit, a tubular member slidably mounted in said bowl and stem unit and having oneend projecting beyond said stem, a bit secured on the projecting end of said tubular member, said tubular member and bit being slidable together as a unit in the direction of the bit to a smoking position and in the opposite direction to a cleaning position, the end of said tubular member remote from said bit being closed and extending beyond said bowl and stem unit in the cleaning position, and said tubular member having an opening connecting the interior thereof with the interior of the bowl in the smoking position and positioned outside of said bowl and stem unit in the cleaning position.

3. In a tobacco pipe, a bowl and stem unit, a tubular member, a bit carried on one end of said tubular member, said tubular member being mounted in said bowl and stem unit and slidable therein in the direction of the bit to a smoking position and in the opposite direction to a cleaning position, the end of said tubular member remote from said bit being closed and extendl ing beyond said bowl and stem unit in the cleaning position, said tubular member having an opening connecting the interior thereof with the interior of the bowl in the smoking position and positioned outside of said bowl and stem unit in the cleaning position, and an indexing pin carried by said tubular member and engaging a mating recess in said bowl and stem unit in the smoking position to prevent rotation of said tubular member but out of engagement therewith in the cleaning position.

KURT VONNEGUT. 

